I completely agree with you, that teaching Spanish to players and coaches seems like a relatively easy and cheap way to improve an organization. I would not be surprised to see more teams start pushing Spanish lessons during the offseason, because like you said it’s all about finding that edge. Since this would only make for more comfortable players and better baseball all around, let’s hope teams start taking your advice.

I have read about teams like the Padres offering Spanish lessons and players like Joey Votto having a personal tutor, but are there any teams putting a real effort into teaching their english speaking prospects Spanish across the entire organization? Or even requiring it?

While I agree with the above comment from Dan that interpreters are a no-brainer, I would think in baseball were any competitive edge is mined that having players (and coaches) who can communicate directly with each other (not just on the field but off it as well) would be a better and longer serving investment for an organization playing the long game.

Its this simple, do we want the Cubs to have better prospects then other clubs? If yes, then the Cubs must maintain a diverse organization. Thankfully this organization get it and fans will reap the benefits.

For the disregarding culture, thing. I dont know what to say to that. American culture is a mixture culture. It has been evolving from its very inception and it will continue whether we like it or not.

Like Heidi and Rob have commented here, learning a new language can be stressful and can take a long time, no matter how seriously one takes it. Even when a player’s home academy agrees with you and teaches that player English before they come to the US, they would still feel more at home with Spanish-speakers around them in their organization. I would also like to say that I agree that Latino players should learn English, I just think the people around them learning Spanish too would be mutually beneficial.

I don’t think it’s so much about abandoning our culture as it is expanding it to welcome and embrace the immigrants who come here to contribute, something this country has prided itself on since the beginning. If you did move to Venezuela and you worked really hard to learn Spanish, wouldn’t it still be nice for those coworkers to try to meet you somewhere in the middle, even if you didn’t expect it of them?

Even if you don’t think that non-Latinos around baseball “should” learn Spanish, I hope you can still see how it can be a great advantage, both for a team and its players.

Wow. If you are the type of person that you could have handled that on your own. I give you credit, there aren’t a lot of people like that.

If I were moving to another country to practice my trade there, I would learn that country’s language. I would not expect them to accommodate me.

By all means, though, let’s just disregard our own culture for the sake of the immigrants who come here to benefit from that culture. Which, by the way, I heartily encourage if done legally. I’m sure all the countries they come from would do the same for us.